Notes:
The 20-year veteran of the racing circuit, Don Branson lost control of his sprint car at the South turn, during the fifth of the 30-lap main event at Ascot Park (Gardena) on Saturday night, 12 November 1966. Branson's car was unavoidably hit by Dick Atkins' car when coming off the wall into the fast lane; other vehicles were also involved in the fiery accident. Branson's car went upside down and burst into flames, its driver was killed instantly.

Atkins of Hayward, California, died the next day from what at first was believed to be burns from the flames of the wreck. An autopsy revealed that he had received minor burns, easily survivable; cause of death was from a fracture to the rear of his skull.

It was widely speculated that Don Branson actually suffered a heart attack prior to hit the wall, this circumstance however cannot be confirmed.

Don Branson, 46, was a two-time sprint car champion from Champaign, Illinois. In addition to numerous racing events all across the country, he also participated in eight of the classic Indianapolis 500 races, between 1959 and 1966. His best finish occurred in 1960, when he came home in a remarkable fourth, at the wheel of Bob Estes' Phillips - Offy. Branson was a close friend to Roger McCluskey. McCluskey contemplated early retirement when Branson was killed.

• U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.
• 1940 United States Federal Census.
• U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007.
• Indiana, Marriages, 1810-2001.
• California Death Index 1940-2000.
• Book "The International Motor Racing Guide", by Peter Higham, David Bull Publishing, Phoenix, United States, ISBN 1-893618-20-X.
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• The Wilson Howard Davis Archives.
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• Newspaper Daily Illini (Urbana, IL, United States), issue of Tuesday, 15 November 1966, page 5, article "Race Driver Branson Dies", retrieved by website Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections, page http://idnc.library.illinois.edu/
• Website Pit Pass, article "Time In A Bottle - The Fallen Heroes Of Sprint Car Racing", by Kevin Allgire, published on 23 December 1999, page http://www.netpitpass.com/kevins_korner/time_in_a_bottle.htm .
• Website Find-A-Grave: Don Branson.
• E-mail by Jim Vernetti, dated 06 May 2008.